FORT FRANCES—The Ontario government announced Friday it will contribute $1.6 million toward the construction of a new Fort Frances Public Library.
“We’re so proud and so thrilled,” head librarian Margaret Sedgwick said Monday morning.
The Ministry of Culture announced a total of $2.3 million in funding for five libraries across the province “that have ready-to-go infrastructure projects,” said minister Caroline Di Cocco.
The remaining $700,000 was split between libraries in Sault Ste. Marie, Nipigon, Mitchell, and Caistorville.
Sedgwick said the local library project is expected to cost $3.8 million, so the Ministry of Culture funding will cover nearly half the total.
The remainder will be covered through other grants and fundraising, she added.
The proposed site for the new library is the property adjacent to the Memorial Sports Centre. The library board already has some conceptual drawings for the new building, which will be fully-accessible.
Fundraising is expected to start early next month.
In other news, the Fort Frances Public Library was short-listed for the province’s Angus Mowat Award for Excellence which recognizes excellence in public library service.
“We didn’t win that one, but we were really proud to be short-listed,” Sedgwick said.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
